Golfing great Gary Player has been down to Birkdale ahead of The Open
Thursday 22 June 2017 21:09, UK
The year's next major is just a month away, with Royal Birkdale ready to host The Open for the 10th time between July 20-23 .
One local golf fan has been to all nine previous Opens at Birkdale and he got a treat ahead of this year's Championship.
The 102-year-old Wilf Cockbain got a chance to meet the 81-year-old Gary Player when the three-time Open champion arrived to check out this year's venue, and both men enjoyed the encounter.
Asked what it was like to meet Player, Cockbain told Sky Sports: "A great privilege and a great joy, having followed him over many, many years, particularly when he won the Open at Lytham St Anne's (in 1974).
"What a nice personality he is."
And Cockbain more than held his own when it came to bantering with Player.
The South African retorted: "We had such a laugh together, he made my day today.
"I was a bit upset. He is 102 and he said 'I'll come to your funeral!'"
Watch Sky Sports' coverage of Open Championship week from Monday, July 17.
